Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Tulane on April 18, 2026 at 4 p.m.
4 p.m.
Baseball
vs. Tulane
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Diamond Diary by Kevin Cooney
3/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2002
FAU 6 - Rutgers 5
The Comeback Kids! How many times this season are we going to come from behind? Last night was the most dramatic so far.
Gabe gave us a start with a leadoff home run,and Hutton later drove Somarriba in for a two zip lead. Maclane looked sharp but left a ball over the plate for Rutgers' big lefty to deposit into our bullpen.
Fiorentino got us back on top with a long home run to right center. I thoght then that if we got through the sixth without them scoring we would be in the clear. DRock could go two and McNab to close it
However, RU's Val Maljewski had other plans as he whacked another fastball into the city water treatment plant, giving Rutgers a 4 - 3 lead. They tacked on one more and there was no joy in Mudville as All American Bobby Brownlie walked in from the bullpen.
Brownlie will likely be New Jersey's next millionaire after the June draft, but this wasn't to be his night. We scratched out some of the ugliest little hits and an error to tie it at five going into the ninth.
McNab had entered in the eighth and then set them down in the ninth. ( including Babe Maljewski )
After Creech made out, Gabe worked their lefty closer for a walk and Hutton followed with a base hit to right. That brought LJ to the plate and the big crowd and our players to their feet! The noise was unbelievable as LJ swung and missed at the first pitch. I thought we were in Mudville, and LJ was mighty Casey. ( did you know that there is a Cooney in that poem? Who cares... I know. )
LJ smacked a single past first. As Gabe raced for the plate, Maljewski ( him again? ) charged hard and came up throwing. Our entire dugout had poured out toward home to help the umpire for the close call, but Gabe slid in safe and the celebration was on!
Those games are worth all the long boring days in the Fall, all the early morning workouts in the weight room, all the term papers and exams, all the staff meetings and recruiting calls, all the nights away from our families. It's a high that is difficult to match. I promise it is a feeling these guys will remember a long time.
I am very proud of this bunch. KC
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